Governments of countries and areas in the ESCAP region gathered in Bangkok, Thailand from 10 to 12 September 2012 for the Asia-Pacific Intergovernmental Meeting on the Second Review and Appraisal of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing.

The Development Monitor is a bimonthly electronic newsletter, launched in early 2012 (issued on a monthly basis initially), which provides an overview of the work and activities undertaken by the ESCAP South and South-West Asia Office and conferences and knowledge products of relevance to the subregion. The newsletter also provides a compilation of news and articles on themes covered by the ESCAP SSWA work programme.

Governments of the ESCAP region gathered in Incheon, Republic of Korea, from 29 October to 2 November 2012 to chart the course of the new Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2013 to 2022. They were joined by representatives of civil society organizations, including organizations of and for persons with disabilities. Also in attendance were representatives of intergovernmental organizations, development cooperation agencies and the United Nations system.

Natural resources sectors such as mining, oil, gas, hydro, and forestry plantations are an integral component of most developing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, thereby making them attractive investment sectors for both transnational corporations (TNCs) and state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Asia Pacific least developed countries attracted less than 1% of FDI inflows to the region, indicating strong growth potential.

Myanmar, which is one of the 13 least developed countries (LDCs) in Asia and the Pacific, is relatively rich in natural resources, has young workforce, and is close to the world’s most dynamic trading economies, including China and India. With an appropriate policy mix, improved business environment and a stable, but reformed political system, the country is expected to fulfill its considerable potential and move ahead with delivering on economic development.

This Working Paper presents Asian Single Window background and evolution; a description of what we mean by national versus regional single window; an update on Member States’ National Single Window (NSW) status; an overview of Asian Single Window (ASW) technical, legal aspects; an assessment of institutional and technical aspects of the Asian Single Window work; potential benefits from the crossborder exchange of data using the Asian Single Window; incremental benefits from Asian Single Window; challenges to Asian Single Window implementation; and conclusions.

The Asia-Pacific Development Journal (APDJ) is published twice a year by the Macroeconomic Policy and Development Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

The primary objective of the APDJ is to provide a platform for the exchange of knowledge, experience, ideas, information and data on all aspects of economic and social development issues and concerns facing the region and to stimulate policy debate and assist in the formulation of policy.

The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report (APTIR) is a recurrent publication prepared by the Trade and Investment Division. It aims to deepen understanding of regional trends and developments in trade and investment; emerging issues in trade, investment and trade facilitation policies; and impacts of these policies on countries’ abilities to meet the challenges of achieving inclusive and sustainable development. APTIR 2012 focuses on trends and developments in the economies of Asia and the Pacific in their post-recovery from the 2008-2009 crisis and trade collapse.

Falling demand in the developed world has led to a broad-based economic slowdown in Asia and the Pacific, lowering economic growth forecasts.

The impact of slowdown will challenge regional inclusive and sustainable development with job growth and household income predicted to decline. UNESCAP estimates that, by 2013, 14 million fewer people in the Asia and Pacific region would be able to escape poverty at the $2-a-day poverty line.